US7922525B2 - USB electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a USB electrical connector having: a plurality of electrical connection units each including a terminal block and at least two rows of conductive terminals embedded in the terminal block. The conductive terminals are embedded in the terminal block by an overmolding process, and wherein each conductive terminal has one end adapted to be electrically connected with a USB plug and the other end adapted to be connected with a printed circuit board. A joint mechanism joins and holds the plurality of electrical connection units, and a fixture fixes the other end of each conductive terminal connected with the printed circuit board. An outer shielding housing encloses the electrical connection units, the joint mechanism and the fixture. The USB electrical connector of the present invention enables a plurality of rows of conductive terminals to be set in stable and good relative positions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of an electrical connector, more particularly, to a USB (Universe Serial Bus) connector.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the prior arts, a computer is usually physically connected with computer peripherals by means of various electrical connectors, for example, a USB electric connector. In order to ensure connection between the USB electrical connector and a USB plug, the locating of conductive terminals of the USB electric connectors and relative positions among the conductive terminals are strictly specified during the design of the USB electric connector. Especially according to the USB 3.0 standard, in a USB electrical connector in which a plurality of stacked rows of conductive terminals are usually provided, the locating of the plurality of rows of conductive terminals and the relative positions among the plurality of rows of conductive terminals have to meet corresponding requirements.

According to design idea and manufacturing manner of the conventional USB electrical connector, the plurality rows of conductive terminals are ordinarily located by being enclosed in a mold in an injection molding process. However, with the current design and manufacturing manner, it is difficult to guarantee the locating of the plurality of rows of conductive terminals and proper relative positions among the conductive terminals.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention has been made to overcome or alleviate at least one aspect of the above mentioned disadvantages.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a USB electrical connector in which stable and good relative positions among several rows of conductive terminals are obtained.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a USB electrical connector that comprises separate electrical connection units that can be joined with one another directly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a USB electrical connector that comprises a plurality of stackable electrical connection units.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a USB electrical connector is provided, the USB electrical connector comprises: a plurality of electrical connection units each including a terminal block and at least two rows of conductive terminals embedded in the terminal block, wherein the conductive terminals are embedded in the terminal block by an overmolding process, and wherein each conductive terminal has one end adapted to be electrically connected with a USB plug and the other end adapted to be connected with a printed circuit board; a joint mechanism for joining and holding the plurality of electrical connection units; a fixture for fixing the other end of each conductive terminal connected with the printed circuit board; and an outer shielding housing constructed to enclose the electrical connection units, the joint mechanism and the fixture from outside.

In an exemplary embodiment, the electrical connection units are stacked in a lower-upper direction and embedded in the joint mechanism. In another exemplary embodiment, however, the plurality of electrical connection units, can also be stacked in a right-left direction and embedded in the joint mechanism. It should be noted that the joint mechanism is an individual member separable from the electrical connection units in the above exemplary embodiments.

Alternatively, in each individual electrical connection unit, the one end of the conductive terminal that is embedded in the terminal block and electrically connected with the USB plug, is perpendicular to the other end of the conductive terminal connected with the printed circuit board.

Specifically, the plurality of electrical connection units comprises two electrical connection units, and the length of each conductive terminal of the upper electrical connection unit is longer than that of each conductive terminal of the lower electrical connection unit at the side close to the printed circuit board.

Alternatively, the at least two rows of conductive terminals are parallel with each other.

Alternatively, the joint mechanism comprises locating grooves corresponding to the electrical connection units in number, wherein the plurality of electrical connection units are embedded in the joint mechanism through corresponding locating grooves respectively.

Alternatively, the fixture is provided with several rows of through holes through which pass the ends of the conductive terminals adapted to be connected with the printed circuit board.

Alternatively, the USB electrical connector further comprises an inner shielding housing constructed to enclose the joint mechanism from outside so as to form an electrical shield among the electrical connection units. More specifically, the joint mechanism includes an extension portion, and the inner shielding housing has a pair of extending sheets, wherein the extension portion is adapted to be inserted between the pair of extending sheets. Alternatively, the extension portion is provided with recesses, and the pair of extending sheets is provided with protrusions matching the recesses.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the joint mechanism may be a non-individual member. Specifically, the joint mechanism comprises a first joining part formed on one electrical connection unit, and a second joining part formed on another electrical connection unit opposite to the one electrical connection unit, wherein the first and second joining parts are fitted with each other so that the plurality of electrical connection units are connected integrally. Alternatively, the plurality of electrical connection units, while stacked in a lower-upper direction, are connected integrally through the first and second joining parts; or the plurality of electrical connection units, while arranged in a right-left direction, are connected integrally through the first and second joining parts.

Specifically, the electrical connection units comprise two or more electrical connection units, wherein one joint mechanism is provided between two adjacent electrical connection units.

Specifically, the first joining part is a groove portion, and the second joining part is a protruding portion snapping to the groove portion.

Alternatively, the USB electrical connector further comprises a locating part for maintaining the joining between the plurality of electrical connection units, wherein the locating part includes a locating hole formed on one electrical connection unit and a locating column formed on another electrical connection unit opposite to the one electrical connection unit, wherein the locating hole and the locating column are fitted together to maintain accurate locating between the electrical connection units.

With the above configuration, the present invention provides at least one of following advantages: with respect to the double-layer USB 2.0 electrical connector which is manufactured in a conventional process in the art, the USB electrical connector according to the present invention can be produced by first enclosing a single row of conductive terminals in the terminal block by a overmolding process so as to form a separate electrical connection unit, then by integrating two or more separate electrical connection units by means of the joint mechanism so that stable and good relative positions between two or more rows of conductive terminals are obtained; in addition, the plurality of electrical connection units are stacked directly by means of the joint mechanism in the present invention, in this case, a certain number of electrical connection units can be stacked, if necessary, based on different design requirements. It should be noted that the joint mechanism of the USB electrical connector of the present invention may be a separate member, or be certain structures which are integrally attached to respective electrical connection units so as to join the respective electrical connection units.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an overall structure of a USB electrical connector according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view illustrating the structure of the USB electrical connector according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view illustrating the structure of a USB electrical connector according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view illustrating the joining structure between two electrical connection units of the USB electrical connector according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein the like reference numerals refer to the like elements.

The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the simply schematic views of the drawings, the number, materials, shapes, relative arrangement, etc., of constituting components are disclosed simply as an example of an embodiment.

FIGS. 1-2 shows a USB electrical connector of the present invention, whereinFIG. 1 illustrates schematically an overall structure of the USB electrical connector according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view illustrating the structure of the USB electrical connector according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIGS. 1-2, the USB electrical connector according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention mainly comprises a plurality of electrical connection units1, ajoint mechanism2, anouter shielding housing3, and afixture4, and aninner shielding housing5, wherein each of the plurality of electrical connection units1 may be connected electrically with a USB plug (not shown) and a printed circuit board (PCB, not shown) and includes aterminal block10 and at least two rows ofconductive terminals11 embedded in theterminal block10. Theconductive terminals11 are embedded in theterminal block10 by an overmolding process, and oneend111 of eachconductive terminal11 is adapted to be connected electrically with the USB plug while the other end thereof is adapted to be connected with the printed circuit board. Thejoint mechanism2 is constructed to join and hold the plurality of electrical connection units, thefixture4 is constructed to fix theother end112 of eachconductive terminal11 connected with the printed circuit board. Theouter shield housing3 encloses the electrical connection units1, thejoint mechanism2 and thefixture4 from outside. In the USB electrical connector of the above exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of electrical connection units1 is fixed in thejoint mechanism2.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of electrical connection units1 stacked in a lower-upper direction are embedded in thejoint mechanism2. The arrangement of the electrical connection units1 in thejoint mechanism2 may be modified based on specific requirements. For example, in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of electrical connection units1 stacked in a right-left direction are embedded in thejoint mechanism2.

In addition, each electrical connection unit1 may be connected electrically with the USB plug and the printed circuit board. According to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as for each electrical connection unit1, the oneend111 of theconductive terminal11 that is embedded in theterminal block10 and electrically connected with the USB plug, is perpendicular to theother end112 of the eachconductive terminal11 connected with the printed circuit board. As shown inFIG. 2, theterminal block10 of the electrical connection unit1 is substantially of a flat rectangular shape, and the oneend111 electrically connected with the USB plug is embedded in a front end of theterminal block10, and theother end112 of theconductive terminal11 extends, from a rear end of theflat terminal block10, downward in a direction substantially perpendicular to theflat terminal block10 for connecting electrically with the printed circuit board. Specifically, theconductive terminals11 are enclosed in theterminal block10 by a molding process, for example, an overmolding process. In the present invention, however, the specific structures of theterminal block10 and theconductive terminals11 in the electrical connection unit1 are not limited to this.

According to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the USB electrical connector specifically comprises two electrical connection units1 (FIG. 1). As shown inFIG. 2, at theends112 connected with the printed circuit board, i.e., at the back side of theterminal block10, the length of eachconductive terminal11 of the upper electrical connection unit is longer than that of eachconductive terminal11 of the lower electrical connection unit, meanwhile, the at least two rows of conductive terminals in each electrical connection unit1 are parallel with one another. Further, as shown inFIG. 1, in the USB electrical connector of the present invention, the rows ofconductive terminals11 in one electrical connection unit1 are parallel with those ofconductive terminals11 in another electrical connection unit1; moreover, theconductive terminals11 of different rows of one electrical connection unit1 are staggered.

In the first exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2, thejoint mechanism2 is one separate member. Thejoint mechanism2 comprises locatinggrooves31 corresponding to the electrical connection units1 in number, wherein the plurality of electrical connection units1 are embedded in thejoint mechanism2 through correspondinglocating grooves31 respectively. Specifically, in the present embodiment, two locatinggrooves31 are formed in thejoint mechanism2, and two electrical connection units1 respectively pass through the corresponding locatinggrooves31 and thus are fixed to thejoint mechanism2 by the locatinggrooves31 so that a complete electrical connection member is formed.

Moreover, the USB electrical connector of the present invention further comprises aninner shielding housing5 which encloses thejoint mechanism2 from the outside so as to form an electrical shield between the electrical connection units1. Specifically, thejoint mechanism2 includes anextension portion32, and theinner shielding housing5 has a pair of extendingplates51, wherein theextension portion32 is adapted to be inserted between the pair of extendingplates51, in this case, theinner shielding housing5 is connected with thejoint mechanism2 with the electrical connection units1 integrated therein so as to form an integrated member. As shown inFIG. 2, theextension portion32 may be provided withrecesses320, and the pair of extendingplates51 may be provided withprotrusions510 for fitting with therecesses320.

In the USB electric connector, thefixture4 is used to fix the electrical connection units1. Specifically, thefixture4 is provided with several rows of throughholes41 through which the ends112 of theconductive terminals11 adapted to be connected with the printed circuit board pass. Thus, by inserting theends112 of theconductive terminals11, which are adapted to be connected with the printed circuit board, into the throughholes41 of thefixture4, and then fixing the electrical connection units1 in theouter shield housing3, a complete USB electrical connector is obtained.

As a result, in the USB electrical connector of the present invention, a connection receptacle (that is, the outer shield housing3) is used to join, in a manner of stacking, two or more individual function cells (that is, the electrical connection units1 for connecting electrically with the USB plug and the printed circuit board) so as to form a whole connector, wherein each individual function cell (the electrical connection unit1) is formed by enclosing theconductive terminals11 in a mold (that is, the terminal block10) by way of an overmolding process, for example, an injection molding process.

The USB electrical connector according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be manufactured at least by the following steps: molding a single row ofconductive terminals11 in theterminal block10 to locate the single row of conductive terminals and form one individual electrical connection unit1; then assembling each of the individual electrical connection units1 to onejoint mechanism2 to integrate the assembled electrical connection units1 so that good relative positions among theconductive terminals11 of the individual electrical connection units1 are ensured; and then assembling other component of the USB electric connector, and thejoint mechanism2 with the electrical connection units1 mounted therein for meeting the functional requirements on the USB electric connector.

With respect to the double-layer USB 2.0 electrical connector which is manufactured in a conventional process in the art, the USB electrical connector according to the present invention can be produced by first enclosing a single row of conductive terminals in the terminal block by an overmolding process so as to form a separate electrical connection unit, then by integrating two or more separate electrical connection units by means of the joint mechanism so that stable and good relative positions between two or more rows of conductive terminals are obtained.

A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4.FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view illustrating the structure of a USB electrical connector according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; andFIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view illustrating the joining structure between two electrical connection units of the USB electrical connector according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIGS. 3-4, the joining manner and joining structure between the electrical connection units1 in the second exemplary embodiment differs from that in the first exemplary embodiment, while structures of other parts in the second exemplary embodiment are the same as or similar to those in the first exemplary embodiment. For the purpose of simplicity, only the joining manner and joining structure in the second exemplary embodiment will be described in detail.

Specifically, as shown inFIGS. 3-4, the USB electrical connector according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention mainly comprises a plurality ofelectrical connection units1A, ajoint mechanism100A, anouter shielding housing3A, and afixture4A, wherein each of the plurality ofelectrical connection units1A may be connected electrically with a USB plug (not shown) and a printed circuit board (not shown), and includes a terminal block10A and at least two rows ofconductive terminals11A embedded in the terminal block10A. Theconductive terminals11A are embedded in the terminal block10A by an overmolding process, for example, an injection molding process, and oneend111A of each conductive terminal is adapted to be connected electrically with the USB plug while the other end thereof is adapted to be connected with the printed circuit board. Thejoint mechanism100A is constructed to join and hold the plurality ofelectrical connection units1A, and thefixture4A is constructed to fix theother end112A of eachconductive terminal11A connected with the printed circuit board. Theouter shield housing3A encloses theelectrical connection units1A, thejoint mechanism100A and thefixture4A from outside. In the USB electrical connector of the second exemplary embodiment, the plurality ofelectrical connection units1A are integrated by thejoint mechanism100A. In addition, as shown inFIG. 4, the USB electrical connector may further comprise an inner shielding housing5A.

As shown inFIGS. 3-4, thejoint mechanism100A according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a first joiningpart101A formed on oneelectrical connection unit1A, and a second joiningpart102A which is formed on anotherelectrical connection unit1A opposite to the oneelectrical connection unit1A, wherein the first and second joining parts are fitted with each other so that the plurality ofelectrical connection units1A are connected integrally. Thus, in the second exemplary embodiment, the plurality ofelectrical connection units1A are integrated or joined together by thejoint mechanism100A provided on the electrical connection units so that a separate or individual joint mechanism is not necessary, which differs much from the solution in the first exemplary embodiment in which the plurality of electrical connection units1 are integrated by means of a separatejoint mechanism2. In other words, in the first exemplary embodiment, the plurality of electrical connection units1 are connected together by thejoint mechanism2 acting as an individual member, while in the second exemplary embodiment, the plurality ofelectrical connection units1A are connected together by means of thejoint mechanism100A which comprises specific structures integrally attached to respectiveelectrical connection units1A. With such a configuration disclosed in the second exemplary embodiment, a separate member can be omitted and also the assembly of the USB electrical connector is facilitated.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the plurality ofelectrical connection units1A, while stacked in a lower-upper direction as shown inFIG. 4, are connected integrally through the first and second joining parts. The arrangement of theelectrical connection units1A may be modified based on specific requirements, for example, in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the plurality ofelectrical connection units1A, while arranged in a right-left direction, are connected integrally through the first and second joining parts.

Specifically, in the second exemplary embodiment, the first joiningpart101A may be agroove portion101A, and the second joiningpart102A may be a protrudingportion102A snap-fitting with the groove portion. As shown inFIG. 3, through a snap fit between thegroove portions101A, formed on both sides of the body of the upperelectrical connection unit1A, and the protrudingportions102A, formed on both sides of the body of the lowerelectrical connection unit1A, the upper and lowerelectrical connection units1A can be joined together. Obviously, the joining manner and joining structure between the electrical connection units in the USB electrical connector of the present invention, may be any one that can join together two or more electrical connection units, that is, it should not be limited to the snap fit between the groove portion and the protruding portion.

Further, the USB electrical connector according to the second exemplary embodiment further comprises a locating part for maintaining the joining between the plurality ofelectrical connection units1A, wherein the locating part comprises a locatinghole110A formed on oneelectrical connection unit1A and a locating column (not shown) which is formed on another electrical connection unit opposite to the one electrical connection unit, wherein the locating hole and the locating column are fitted together to maintain accurate locating between theelectrical connection units1A. It should be noted that the specific structure of the locating part of theelectrical connection unit1A is not limited to this.

According to the second exemplary embodiment, the plurality ofelectrical connection units1A comprise two or moreelectrical connection units1A, and onejoint mechanism100A is provided between two adjacentelectrical connection units1A. Though there are twoelectrical connection units1A inFIGS. 3-4, there may be three or more of theelectrical connection units1A which can be connected directly with each other.

The USB electrical connector according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention enables a plurality of rows of conductive terminals to be in stable and good relative positions. In addition, since a plurality of individual electrical connection units are directly connected together in a stacking manner by the joint mechanism, a certain number of electrical connection units can be stacked, if necessary, based on different design requirements.

Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (17)

1. A USB electrical connector comprising:

a plurality of electrical connection units each including a terminal block and at least two rows of conductive terminals embedded in the terminal block, wherein the conductive terminals are embedded in the terminal block by an overmolding process, and wherein each conductive terminal has one end adapted to be electrically connected with a USB plug and the other end adapted to be connected with a printed circuit board;

a joint mechanism for joining and holding the plurality of electrical connection units;

a fixture for fixing the other end of each conductive terminal that is connected with the printed circuit board; and

an outer shielding housing being constructed to enclose the electrical connection units, the joint mechanism and the fixture.

2. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical connection units are stacked in a lower-upper direction and embedded in the joint mechanism.

3. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical connection units are arranged in a right-left direction and embedded in the joint mechanism.

4. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 2, wherein in each electrical connection unit, the one end of each conductive terminal that is embedded in the terminal block and electrically connected with the USB plug, is perpendicular to the other end of each conductive terminal connected with the printed circuit board.

5. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 2, wherein the plurality of electrical connection units comprise two electrical connection units, and the length of each conductive terminal of the upper electrical connection unit is longer than that of each conductive terminal of the lower electrical connection unit at the side close to the printed circuit board.

6. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 1, wherein the at least two rows of conductive terminals are parallel with one another.

7. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 1, wherein the joint mechanism comprises locating grooves corresponding to the number of electrical connection units, and the electrical connection units are embedded in the joint mechanism through corresponding locating grooves respectively.

8. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 2, wherein the fixture is provided with several rows of through holes through which the ends of the conductive terminals adapted to be connected with the printed circuit board pass.

9. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 1, further comprising: an inner shielding housing constructed to enclose the joint mechanism from outside so as to form an electrical shield among the plurality of electrical connection units.

10. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 9, wherein the joint mechanism includes an extension portion, and the inner shielding housing has a pair of extending plates, wherein the extension portion is adapted to be inserted between the pair of extending plates.

11. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 9, wherein the extension portion is provided with recesses, and the pair of extending plates are provided with protrusions fitting with the recesses.

12. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 1, wherein the joint mechanism comprises a first joining part formed on one electrical connection unit, and a second joining part formed on another electrical connection unit opposite to the one electrical connection unit, wherein the first and second joining parts are fitted with each other so that the plurality of electrical connection units are connected integrally.

13. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 12, wherein the plurality of electrical connection units stacked in a lower-upper direction, and are connected integrally through the first and second joining parts.

14. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 12, wherein the plurality of electrical connection units stacked in a right-left direction, and are connected integrally through the first and second joining parts.

15. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 12, wherein the plurality of electrical connection units comprise two or more electrical connection units, wherein one joint mechanism is provided between every two adjacent electrical connection units.

16. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 12, wherein the first joining part is a groove portion, and the second joining part is a protruding portion snap to the groove portion.

17. The USB electrical connector according toclaim 12, further comprising a locating part for maintaining the joining among the plurality of electrical connection units, wherein the locating part comprises a locating hole formed on one electrical connection unit and a locating column formed on another electrical connection unit opposite to the one electrical connection unit, wherein the locating hole and the locating column are fitted together to maintain accurate locating between the electrical connection units.

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